Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1887-05-13

~ Eftet4sGGt at TIC Gsttts oAatcA- a Il
might uos Be farther said that she i /
ths srst Via has Lived 70 sc . mona
msnt raised ever Der son's grave and 10
zee be statue uaysilsd e. the cspitzl Of
the Nation.
0sThsld vii always Be rsuembefsd
- Pr siaeAt Of sbs GATED States. and |
the most notable sgsat Of bis career
gill SvsF be tat vhieh clsssd H. Yet
be rendered inco@parasly greater ser
vice to bis eonstFy on tie 6sld Of battle
and 10 the halls Of Congress than be
rendered during bis sh0Ft add stormy
iaeuubency Of the White H9uss. His
administration never passsd beyond the
experimental stage. It's success vas
ssili doubtful uhen it reashsd is sud
dsa aud unsimely end. Opinions Sill
ever differ e. 70 WHISTLER the esnFsc
upon which Garfield had set out cas-
the best that could have been chosen,
asd what the ultimate result OF bis
policy would havs been. can never he
m 1rs than = sabisct Of speculation. II .
career In the aFmT and 10 Congress,
b pwsvsF. is yell rounded aad complete,
ead from il can be formed an accurate
estimate Of his character aRd capab!li.
tiea.
His career a. q soldier sffJrds q
bright extmple Of success attained On
der the greatest difisulties and In spite
Of the most adverse circumstances Alb
sOlutelV uuaeqsainted With the profess
sion Of arms. and educated TO pursuits
radically different from those Of the
camp and field, his frst military experi-
enee vas gained 10 eopduatinR cam
p4iRn 10 which be vss siRBslly success
ful. His rapid advance In the art Of
var affords an instance Of what may be
accomplished BY the American yolsn
teer. He stepped from the sohool-room
into tbs field. and by deVsting himself
to the new problems presented to him
with the same energy and applicatioE
that had marked bis career 10 peaceful
vOcatiOns. be sOon acquired q know
ledge OF The duties Whish be was called
upon 10 perform. aud assumed q place
side BY eide With many whose entire
life had been devoted to the acquire
ment Of military education. As sn
Cfiiser be displayed quiekness Of sppre
pension, pEomptness Of decision, and
personal courage Of high order. His
b ,art vas in the cause for whioh be
fought. de bad left wife and home to
20 into the conf OF. and be entered it
with all the enthusiam Of q sinEularly
impFessionsble nature. He was thor
ouRhly In earnest. and he conducted
himself as u bis sole aspiration vas to
live soldiers life and 81 die a soldiers
death. Hs possessed, 10 rare degree,
the qualities Of the successful soldier,
and, With the exception Of Logan and
possibly one or tUo others. be must be
REGARDED ss the ablest volunteer general
Of the war.
II was 10 Congress, however, that
GarheId's real life work was accom-
plishsd. He v uDquestionsbly one Of
The ablesi and most poSerful Of the
many able and powerful parliamentary
leaders who we're trained TO leadership
during the stormy period Immediately
50 ioeeding tbs slsveholders' rebellion.
He rose slowiy TO eminsnee. bat he vas
at last acknowledged as the undsputed
laader of bis party in the House Of
Representatives. He WAS forcible and
convincing speaker and a correct and
logical thinker. HIS mind did not act
as rapidly as did thoss OF many of his
contemporaries, bat bis anal judgment
was almost invariably correct and be
Was able TO sustain 1t with a course Of
arguJsent which convinced others Of its
correctness. In the many puzzin and
complex questions which arose during
bis Congressional career, be chose the
right side on almost every one. His
powerful speeches are evan nov con-
suited a. able and correct txpositi0ns 81
the questions With which they deal. de
was a giant in Congress. and his eoun-
tTymen have reason TO regret the series
OF uns xpeeted events which called him
from the g I'D Of bis greatest usefulness
almost before he bad attained his prime
GGfasld's elevation to the Presidency
revealed the elements OF weakness in bis
character. He lacked executive ability.
He lacked the power. so necessary TO a
President. 10 act resolntely and indie
peudeptlS. His decision was usually
prompt. bot biz adherence 10 II at deci-
sion when formed VAS weak. de vas
not 10 the White House she same giant
that he bad been in Congress. HoWsv-
or, as has been said. his administration
/ wss never more than an eIPtrims ut.
Garfield Was not given an oPportunt ~
/ 10 become familiar With his neT duties
he Was called from them while they
vere still strange to him. and the sp
parent weaknesses which have been
noted may havs been due 10 the novelty
OF the position in which be VAS placed. Il
Il AZ unfair 20 pass judgment upon bis
administration as It would be to criti
else an uheompleted monument II v,l,
Be remembered Obi, a. for the tragedy
/ With whish ID elo,ed And IL IL 10 be.
feared. too, that the crash Of Ganean's
pistol will be heard isne after ths echo. .
Of the speeches nBan whioh GaIhsid's
clAim 20 true greatness must be based.
have ceased 30 TevebeTsts.
mUNIINGtaN's HAPLANATIsNs.